Multiple-wire drawing machine transmission



Sept. 8, 1959 J. NACKEN MULTIPLE-WIRE DRAWING MACHINE TRANSMISSION FiledMarch 9, 1955 w m m w.

JOHANNA NACKEN Hwy Mat ATTORNEYS MULTIPLE-WIRE DRAWING MACHINETRANSMISSION Johanna Nacken, Nuremberg, Germany Application March 9,1955, Serial No. 493,225 4 Claims. c1. 74-665) The invention relates towire-drawing machines, and more particularly to continuous multiplewire-drawing machines of the slipless type.

Multiple wire-drawing machines of this kind generally comprise severalrotary drawingblocks or drums arranged in series and followed by arotary finishing drum or block, usually in vertical disposition. Thewire to be drawn is tangentially'fed to the first block near the basethereof, withdrawn in substantially axial direction from the top ofthisblock and guided by sheaves to the base of the next succeeding blockthrough a drawing die or box and so forth. 'The relative rotationalspeed of the blocks is correlated to the elongations experienced by thewire during its passages through the dies. If for instance the averageelongation of the wire is 27% in each die, each block should revolve 27%slower than the next succeeding one to obtain constant accumulations butin actual practice it is not possible accurately and permanently tomaintain a constant elongation from block to block. Accordingly, it iscustomary to provide a safety factor of about 5%, that is, to rotateeach block 27 -5 %=22% slower than the next succeeding one. takes upabout 5% more wire from the next preceding blockthan is withdrawn by thenext succeeding one whereby blocks are gradually filled, though notnecessarily uniformly.

With slipless multiple wire-drawing machines as heretofore known, it isnecessary to stop a block on which the wire accumulation exceeds acertain upper limit and also all theblocks preceding to filled block.The wire is then 7 withdrawn from the stopped blocks until the wireaccumulations on the filled block and the other stopped blocks arereduced to a lower limit whereupon the stepped blocks are restarted.

"The stopping and restarting of the block are inconvenient. Further, thedrawing of wire withdrawn from stopped blocks has an adverse effect uponthe wire. As is apparent, wire withdrawn from the top of a stopped blockin generally axial direction experiences a twist 360 per...windingwithdrawn. The resulting tensions and stresses within the wire make thesame unsuitable for many purposes, for instance, steel wire so twistedcannot be usedfor the manufacture of accurately coiled springs.

1 One of the objects of the present invention is to providea novel andimproved multiple wire-drawing machine As a result, each bloclc atent Oand improved multiple wire-drawing machine ofthe general type abovereferred to, in which wire when run through the machine experiences aslight very slow twist in opposite rotational direction. This twist isso slight that it has an insignificant effect upon the quality of thewire and even this insignificant effect is nullified by twisting of thewire in opposite direction. The twisting of the wire in oppositedirection aifords the further important advantage of greatly reducingthe wear on the die boxes since the opposite rotation of the wire tendsto maintain the roundness of the drawing bores. As a result, thenecessity of the heretofore used rotation of the dies by means of motordrives is completely eliminated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedwire-drawing machine of the general type above referred to, in which allthe blocks are continually rotated and if the accumulation of wire on ablock exceeds a desired upper limit, the rate of speed of this block andof all the preceding or anterior blocks is reduced relative to the ratespeed of the succeeding or posterior block without changing the relativerevolutionary speed of the blocks rotating at the reduced speed. As aresult, the Wire accumulating on the respective block by a certainpercentage now decreases by the same percentage. If, for example, theincrease of the wire supply on the respective block is 5% and the rateof speed of the block is re-- duced by 10%, the decrease is also 5%, therate of speed being 27% +5 %=32% slower than the rate of speed of thesucceeding or posterior block. As a result, the

wire is twisted through 360 for each twenty windings only whereas uponWithdrawal of wire from a stopped block the wire is twisted through 360for each winding,

that is, twenty times as much. As mentioned before, the slight twist ina machine according to the invention is entirely harmless in itself andis in addition, completely nullified since some of the blocks willalways be rotated with a rate of speed accumulating wire when the otherblocks are rotated with a rate of speed reducing the wire supply so thatwire twisted in one direction is subsequently twisted through the sameangle in opposite direction.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel andimproved wire-drawing machine of the general type above referred to, inwhich the rate of speed of each block on which the supply of wirereaches an upper or a lower limit, can be reduced and increasedrespectively independently of the position of the block within themachine whereby the rate of speed of all the posterior blocks is equallychanged without altering the relative speed of said blocks whereas therate of speed of the an terior blocks remains unchanged both absolutelyand a relatively.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will bepointed out hereinafter and set forth in the appended claims formingpart of the application.

In the accompanying drawing the single figure shows diagrammatically anelevational view, partly in section, of a multiple wire-drawing machineaccording to the invention by way of illustration and not by way oflimitation.

The exemplified machine is a continuous four draw wire-drawing machineof the non-slipping type, shown in its simplest form. It comprises threeslightly tapered drawing blocks a, b and c and a finishing block 0!, in

vertical arrangement.

Wire 40 to be drawn is fed to the machine, or more specifically to thebase of the first block a through a die box 41 of conventional design.The wire is withdrawn from the top of block a in generally axialdirection and guided over guide rolls or sheaves a b through a die box42 to the base of block b. It is withdrawn from the top of this. blockand guided over guide rolls or sheaves .b and c through a die box 43 tothe base of block 0. Finally, the wire is guided from the top of box 0by guide rolls or sheaves c and d through a die box 44 to the base offinishing drum d. All the blocks are mounted on a bench 45.

The power drive is preferably connected to the right end of the machine,that is, the end adjacent to block d since at this end the requiredrotational speed is the highest one. The power drive is shown as a beltpulley 1, but of course a motor may be coupled directly to the machine.The shaft of pulley 1 seats a bevel gear 2 which drives flirough a bevelgear 3 a spur, gear 4. Gear 4 is in mesh with a spur gear 5 which isloosely mounted on a shaft 7 for the end block d. Shaft 7 has fastthereon a spur gear 8. Coupling 6 also mounted on shaft 7 permits tocouple gear 5 with shaft 7 for transmission of rotation from pulley 1 toshaft 7. Coupling 6 may be of any suitable design, that is, it may be amechanical, electromagnetic or hydraulic coupling. The engagement anddisengagement of the coupling should be visualized as being effected byany suitable and conventional actuating means well known for thepurpose. To simplify illustration, the coupling is shown as a so-calleddog teeth coupling having one coupling member keyed to shaft 7 and theother integral with gear 5. As is apparent, coupling 6 is the maincoupling of the machine, the engagement and disengagement of whichrespectively starts or stops the entire machine.

Shaft 7 and with it block a are operatively connected to block c througha variable speed transmission means. This transmission means is shown ascomprising an intermediate shaft 12 on which is rotatably seated a. bushor sleeve 10. This sleeve mounts two fast gears 9 and 11 of differentdiameter. Gear 9 is in mesh with a gear 14 and gear 11 is in mesh with agear 15. Both gears 14 and 15 are rotatableon a shaft 13. This shaftmounts block 0 and also a gear 17 fixedly seated on the shaft.

A double coupling 16 is mounted on the shaft between gears 14 and 15. Asdescribed in connection with coupling 6, the double coupling may be ofany suitable design. It is again shown as a dog teeth coupling, onecoupling member of which is keyed to shaft 13. The second couplingmember is integral with or fixedly secured to gear 14 and the thirdcoupling member to gear 15. As a result, either gear 14 or gear 15 maybe coupled to shaft 13 by corresponding actuation of the coupling sothat shaft 13 and with it block 0 is rotated with a rate of speedcorresponding to gear 9 or gear 11.

Shaft 13 and with it block 0 are operatively connected with block bthrough a variable speed transmission means similar to the one justdescribed. Accordingly, gear 17 is in mesh with a gear 18 fast on a bushor sleeve 22 rotatable on a second intermediate shaft 19. This sleevealso seats two fast gears 20 and 21 of different diameter. Gears 20 and21 are in mesh with gears 23 and 24 rotatable on a shaft 25. This shaftmounts block b and a gear 27 keyed to the shaft. The shaft furthermounts a double coupling 26 similar to coupling 16 previously describedfor selectively coupling gears 23 and 24 with shaft 25.

Finally, shaft and with it block b is coupled with block a through avariable speed transmission means. This transmission means comprises twogears 28 and 31 which are fast on a bush or sleeve 30 rotatably mountedon .an intermediate shaft 29. Gears 28 and 31 are of different diameter.Gear 28 is in mesh with gear. 27 and a gear 32, and gear 31 is in meshwith a gear .33. Both gears 32 and 33 are rotatable on a shaft 34. Thisshaft mounts block a and a double coupling similar to double couplings16 and 26 previously described. Accordingly, actuation of coupling 35permits to couple either gear 32 or gear 33 with shaft 34 fortransmission of rotation.

As is apparent, actuation of coupling 6 and couplings 16, 26 and 35either upwards or downwards will transmit rotation of pulley 1 to allthe blocks. The ratio of transmission of the transmission means is socorrelated that when gears 14, 24 and 33 are coupled with the respectiveshafts each of the blocks rotates with a speed which is faster than thespeed of the next preceding or anterior block. This excess of speed isselected to accommodate the elongation experienced by the wire in therespective die and to accumulate on each block a certain percentage ofthe wire passing through the machine over and above the length of wirewithdrawn by the next succeeding or posterior block. Let it be assumedthat as previously mentioned the wire is elongated in each die box by27% and that an accumulation of 5% of the run of wire is desired, thespeed of each block will be 22% faster than the speed of the nextpreceding or anterior block.

The gear ratio of the transmission means when gears :15, 23 and 32 arecoupled to the respective shafts, is such that the rate ofspeed of theblocks is lowered to a speed at which each block takes up less wire fromthe next preceding or anterior block than is withdrawn from it by thenext succeeding or posterior block, or more specifically the rate ofspeed of the blocks is lowered 10% whereby the supply of wire is reducedby 5% of the run of wire on each block rotating at reduced speed.

Let it now be assumed that the accumulation of wire on block b hasreached its upper limit and that it hencebecomes necessary to reduce thesupply of wire on this block. To accomplish this, the operator actuatescoupling 26 so that gear 24 is disengaged from shaft 25 and gear 23 isengaged with shaft 25. AS a -rs sult, the rate of speed of block b isreduced to the "rate of speed for lowering the supply of wire on blockb. The absolute rate of speed of the next preceding or anterior block ais similarly reduced but the relative ,speed of blocks a and b remainsunchanged. The rate of speed of blocks 0 and d is not afiected at all bythe actuation of coupling 26 so that blocks c and 4 continue to rotateat the same absolute and relative speed. When the supply of wire onblock b has reached or approaches its lower limit, the operator restoresthe initial rate of speed of l cks a and b y ag n pe t g .sa plins sothat gear 23 is disengaged m ha t 2 1M42 ea 245. en ged with the shaft.

As is p r the upply of wir on each o the blocks ,a, b and 0 can becontrolled in the same manner by operating the respective couplingwithout the need of stopping any of the blocks. It is further apparentthat some of the blocks will always operate at the speed foraccumulation of wire when and while other blocks rotate at the speed forreduction of Wire so that the slightslow twist experienced by wirewithdrawn from a block operating at reduced speed is counteracted by the:slow twist experienced by wire withdrawn from a block ,or EblOCkSrotated at the speed for accumulation of .wire.

The actuation of the couplings can be effected manually by the operatorsupervising the machine .as previously described, but it is, of course,also possible .to provide detecting means which feel the supply of wireon each block and automatically actuate the respective coupling when thesupply of wire reaches its upper 01 lower limit on the correspondingblock. Detecting and feeling means of this type are Well known in theart and a detailed description thereof does not appear to be essentialfor the understanding of the invention. 1

As is evident, any number of drawing blocks maybe provided andcontrolled as described. It is further evident that instead of yariablespeed transmission means having two speeds, transmission means havingmore than two speeds may be provided in the event the specificproperties of the wire to be drawn require more than two speeds.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to acertain now preferred example and ,em bodiment of the invention it willbe understood .by those skilled in the art after understanding theinvention, that various changes and modifications maybe made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it isintended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in theappended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

l. A transmission for a continuous wire drawing machine in which thewire to be drawn is guided over a series of rotary drawing blocks, eachattenuating the wire by a predetermined percentage, said transmissioncomprising a plurality of parallel rotary drive shafts, one for eachdrawing block, a plurality of intermediate shafts, each one of saidshafts being disposed between each two drive shafts parallel thereto,two pairs of rotation transmitting means of different ratio oftransmission coupling each intermediate shaft with the respectivepreceding drive shaft as seen in the direction of travel of the wireover successive drawing blocks, each of the pairs formed by anintermediate shaft and the respective preceding drive shaft including adriven member loose on the respective drive shaft and a driving member,a sleeve loose on each intermediate shaft fixedly seating the respectivedriving members for joint rotation, coupling means on each drive shaftfor drivingly coupling a selected one of the driven members thereon tothe drive shaft, a driving coupling between the drive shaft for thefinal drawing block in said series and one of the driving members on thesleeve of the intermediate shaft next preceding, a driving couplingbetween the drive shaft next preceding the last mentioned intermediateshaft and the sleeve of the intermediate shaft preceding said lastmentioned drive shaft, and coupling means for drivingly connecting thedrive shaft for said final drawing block to a drive means for themachine whereby upon drivingly coupling one of the driven members oneach of the drive shafts with the corresponding driving member on therespective intermediate shaft, all the drive shafts are drivinglycoupled to each other for rotation upon driving of the drive shaft forsaid final drawing block.

2. A transmission according to claim 1, wherein the ratios oftransmission among said shafts are correlated so that upon drivinglycoupling the member of each pair having said one ratio of transmission,each drive shaft rotates at a rate of speed higher than the nextpreceding shaft and upon drivingly coupling the members of each pairhaving said other ratio of transmission, each drive shaft rotates at arate of speed lower than the next preceding drive shaft.

3. A transmission according to claim 2, wherein each of said couplingmembers for coupling a selected driven member on a drive shaft to thecorresponding driving member on the respective intermediate shaft isindependently operable.

4. A transmission according to claim 1, wherein the driving members andthe driven members on each sleeve and each drive shaft respectively aregears in mesh, the gears on the drive shafts being loose thereon, andwherein said coupling means on the drive shafts are operable forselectively keying one of the gears on the drive shaft thereto for jointrotation on the drive shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,653,097 Hodgson Dec. 20, 1927 2,029,206 Williams Jan. 28, 19362,062,723 Nacken Dec. .1, 1936 2,247,491 Groene July 1, 1941 2,272,195George et al. 2. Feb. 10, 1942 2,450,896 Kimberly Oct. 12, 19482,606,650 Evans Aug. 12, 1952 2,711,222 Bock June 21, 1955

